Exploring the Interests and Enthusiasms of Sturgis Charter Public School ~ International Baccalaureate for All

Creative Ventures (Summer 2013)

West Barnstable Rails by Nancy Devine

Silent Art Auction – An Artful Benefit for Sturgis

Saturday, October 5, 4:00 – 6:00 PM, Sturgis West Atrium

Presented by Sturgis Business Leaders Club & Splaine Dolan Fine Art

Mark your calendars for an afternoon filled with art, music and fine refreshments. Featuring paintings and prints (some by very local artists) valued between $50 – $1,000. Wearable art including scarves and ties will also be available for purchase.

Sturgis Arts Festivals

Sturgis Arts Festivals are always one of the highlights of the year for visual and performing arts. Due to the large number of talented students on both campuses, we decided East and West should have separate festivals this year. Sturgis West Arts Festival was May 11; Sturgis East followed on May 18. Both festivals included several music concerts including Sturgis Singers, Chorus, Sturgis Strings and Jazz Ensembles. There were theater productions originating from IB Theatre classes, as well as monologues from 9th and 10th graders.

An impressive array of student visual artwork was displayed in the Cotuit Gallery. The day would never be complete without our traditional International Luncheon Buffet provided by SPA. We had two wonderful days to celebrate the Arts and to enjoy family and good friends. Check out the slideshow at end of article for photos of both festivals.

Congratulations to the following Sturgis students who were selected to participate in the Artworks School to Career Program: TaylorDean (Class of 2013 – East), Abigail Depin, (Class of 2013 -East), Ann-Drea Morris, (Class of 2014 -West), and Lily Xiao Haselton, (Class of 2014 – East).

Senator Dan Wolf and Lily Haselton at Statehouse Exhibit

Students in the program participate in an eight-week internship with area artists in disciplines including painting, photography, illustration, pottery and graphic design. The ArtWorks program was started in 1997 as an opportunity to connect students with working artists in studios across the Cape and Islands. The goal is to give students who are considering a career in the arts a real life work experience and job training that will enrich their career knowledge and provide an exceptional complement to their traditional academic studies. Ann-Drea worked with stained glass artist, Stefan Sempl. The program is administered by The Heritage Museums and Gardens of Sandwich. Heritage offered an exhibition of the work of student artists and their mentors April 27th through May 12th at Heritage Museums & Gardens, then May 18th through June 1st at Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis. The exhibit concludes at the Massachusetts State House in Boston, June 29th through August 18, 2013.

Art Club Plans Ahead

By Sara Prygocki, Class of 2014

Originally published in Sturgis StormWatch 03 Jan 2013. Reprinted here with permission of the author.

Art Club

Sturgis’ new Art Club has hit the ground running, planning projects like an IB- themed mural, with each of the members working on a different aspect of the learning profile. Juniors Lily Haselton and Rebecca Liberwirth started the club, voicing their ideas to Ms. Cope who volunteered to be their adviser.

“Lily and I were curious as to why there wasn’t one and decided that there should be, so we started one ourselves!” Rebecca recalls.
“We were all surprised and disappointed that there wasn’t an art club at Sturgis,” Audrey Petersen says.
When word first got out, there were a lot more people interested, but the numbers slowly dwindled. “We no longer have as many (members), but those we do have are really great about staying dedicated!” said Rebecca.
“I couldn’t ask for more dedicated people in the art club, I love how everyone is willing and wanting to be there and contribute each and every week,” added Lily.

The two are still planning for the future of the club, including more projects or even “mini” art lessons.
Other members believe them to be in very capable hands. “I have people to look up to which I think is important because it builds up the spirit for improvement,” Robby Treichel says of his fellow students. “I look forward to going to Art Club every week.”
Every one of these dedicated members are open to more recruits, and art club meets every Friday at lunch over at the art building. “If anyone’s interested in just checking out a meeting, they’re more than welcome to join us! We’re all really friendly, so there’s absolutely no reason to be intimidated!” Audrey says.

“Beginnings” Art Show at Cape Cod Art Association

The following students will represent Sturgis East and West at The Cape Cod Art Association’s annual “Beginnings” Show. The show runs from March 19 to March 25, with a reception on Thursday, March 21 from 6 – 8 pm. at which time prizes will be awarded.

Veterans for Peace Cape Cod invited submissions of poems to celebrate “Peace Week”, April 8 – 12, 2013. The contest is open to all Cape & Islands writers. Winners are selected from 14 categories from grades K – 12 and adults. The winners from Sturgis were Nicole Collucci, Emma Esterman, Sander Goldman, Lily Paradise, and Tom Homand. We are pleased to present the winning Sturgis poems for peace:

Nicole Collucci, Class of 2015 – East

The Soldier

We all watch

As his little girl runs into his arms

As he drops his suitcase right then and there

In the middle of the airport

As he looks over at his wife

For the first time in a long time

As they cry tears of joy together

We watch

Our hearts suddenly fill with joy watching these people we don’t know

And we can only image

What they have been through

We feel happy knowing

She won’t have to miss her husband anymore

She won’t have to worry about the love of her life being killed

By men she doesn’t know

By guns she doesn’t approve of

For a cause which was unclear

We feel happy that she won’t have to raise their daughter alone

We watch

As this beautiful family is reunited

After what we can see had to have been so long

Too long

We forget about our vacations to Hawaii

And our business trips we don’t want to go on

And we all take this moment in the crowded airport

To stop

To admire the moment

And feel happy for these strangers

Who have made more of an impact

Than they could’ve ever imagined

This is the opposite of war

This is peace.

Emma Esterman, Class of 2016 – East

Maybe

It seems a little odd, just a bit,

That humans smear the clouds, the sun, with grime and grit

The red and purple currents, the plastic on the sand

The small furry body encircled by a thick rubber band

As if the inky veil of smoke shrouds the sensors within

That remember the wish made over the laughs and the din

Now smothered somewhere in a fogged over crease

That maybe just maybe we wished for world peace.

It perturbs me even more when I see upon the screen

A little boy turned into a killing machine

The whites of his eyes like the glow of the sun

Hands clenched around the trigger of a three-foot gun

That certain bill lying somewhere on this desk

Masked by other issues, more grotesque

But perhaps Yemen is not included when we humans say

Maybe just maybe there will be world peace today.

It perplexes me to see the threats laced throughout the Internet

Of the people who always continue to forget

That there might be bureaus and cabinets somewhere

Whispering amongst the trinkets and items stashed there

That using science to engineer our neighbors’ deaths

Is not the preferred method of draining we humans’ last breaths

Through the nausea and the gyrations anticipated in its release

Maybe it is hard to glimpse the pledges for world peace.

If only we would remember those wishes, bills, and pledges

Lying transparent, shards of glass upon clear window ledges

The fog would clear, hands unclench, and targeting would decrease

Until one day, someday, the world will be at peace.

Sander Goldman, Class of 2015 – East

Plastic Soldiers

A boy,

Seven years old,

aligns plastic soldiers on his bedroom floor,

He sees the matching uniforms, and helmets

but doesn’t see their names.

He sees the battle start and the men get ready,

but doesn’t see their fear

He sees the enemy advancing over a lump in the rug,

but overlooks the dead that lie behind it.

He sees the good guys shoot and the bad guys fall,

but cannot see the blood.

He hears the explosions he makes with his mouth,

but doesn’t hear the screams.

He sees the little, green men that fly out of his hands and into the air,

but doesn’t see their wounds.

With the battle won, he sees the defeated troops strewn across the floor,

but doesn’t see their families.

He sees the victorious soldiers who cheer with relief and pride

but ignores the ones who cry

He sees the glory,

not the death.

He sees the victory,

not the killing,

He sees the battle on his floor,

but not the horror that is war.

Lily Xiao Haselton, Class of 2014 – East

Yellow Bus Bullies

Back then, my sister skin scraped from pallet

of watered chalk a powder paste liquid

without enough color to fill the canvas.

The sun hung in the sky dripped hues

of warmth onto her full and rosy cheeks

she skipped to greet school day.

Her hair drawn with the same pigments

that swept through autumn trees lit dawn

wound in tight frizzy curls that bounced.

Her eyes stood out on her small face

like two heads of sun-bleached broccoli

raw and ripening ag+ainst an off white plate.

These the shades of a child’s vibrant youth

maybe her forehead too big face too round

if they were she and I did not notice or care.

Back then, my sister walked off yellow bus

her rolling blue backpack in straight toe

she slumped with youthful innocence gone.

If the moon opened oceans that flowed

across its desolate dry surface slowly sank

empty of valleys dripped down to earth.

Like lucid paint my eyes mirrored her tears

two heads of broccoli stained and peppered

with words stuck to her like so many freckles.

She told our mother some older taller bullies

pulled curly hair straight onto faded cheeks

called her stripper on a black pole.

Back then, I would call them mean names too

But now, if painted in full circle no matter how

the start line can change just ahead.

Tom Homand, Class of 2015

Bringing Peace and Love into the World

Around Me

Peace must begin with me

No statement is truer

First, I must be a model of patience, kindness and consideration

I must be unselfish, less demanding and more giving

And what would that look like?

I would start by spending more time with my family

Which is the most important gift anyone can give

I would aid my parents when times become tough

By carrying some of the stressful burdens

of caring for my siblings

At school my goal would be to help new runners succeed and excel

And to assist my fellow students when they needed my help

I must try to accept everyone everywhere and in every way

Politeness and kindness should be my mission

In my community, time spent volunteering would be essential

I would help keep the outdoors clean

And encourage others to do the same

Assisting at fundraisers

Joining my mother

And helping women and children who have no safe place to turn

And working with those who offer hope and support

To the abused would be a great importance to me

If I accomplish these tasks, than the peace within me

Will hopefully bring more peace and love into the world

around me.

Poetry Out Loud

POL East

East English Faculty and POL Finalists

Congratulations to junior Molly Brennan for winning the East school-wide competition of Poetry Out Loud! Kevin Agostinelli, Sophia Braddel, Maura Coughlin, Maria Giradin, Sander Goldman, Ben Johnson-Staub, Isabella Luff, Anna Pannell, Maggie Randall, Anna Rohlf, Dan Souza, and Khidra Weisman were the other finalists, representing the 6 freshmen and 6 sophomore classes that participated in the contest (220 students total). Maura Coughlin, freshmen, was the runner-up. Patrick Todoroff, husband of receptionist Rachel Todoroff and creator of the beautiful window in the library, Christine Rathbun Ernst, visiting poet to the sophomore classes, and Greg Hischak, visiting poet to the freshmen classes, were the three guest judges. Rachel and librarian Kate Dunigan-Atlee were behind the scenes helping with accuracy judging and tabulation, and Art teacher Dawn Cope was the prompter. Alicia Watts, English teacher, was the emcee and coordinator. The after school contest was a wonderful celebration of poetry (and the comedy stylings of Mrs. Cope!) shared by faculty, students, and parents.

On Sunday, March 3, 1pm at the Cultural Center of Yarmouth, Molly Brennan will compete in the Massachusetts regional Poetry Out Loud competition. Last year Molly made it all the way to states. The event is open to the public. Break a leg, Molly!

POL West

Sturgis West Poets and Musicians

Congratulations to Olivia LaBarge, a 10th Grader, for winning the West school-wide competition of Poetry Out Loud! Olivia will now perform in the Regional Contest taking place on March 3rd, 2013 at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod.

The 10th Annual Sturgis Poetry & Performing Arts Coffeehouse was held Thursday, April 11, at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. It was a great evening of poetry and performing arts by Sturgis students and faculty in a beautiful venue for a great cause! This year’s coffeehouse was a benefit for Sturgis Libraries.

STAGE Prepares “Hush”: Keep Your Eyes Closed

By Sara Prygocki – Class of 2014Originally published in Sturgis StormWatch 05 Mar 2013. Published here with permission of the author.

This spring’s stage production, Hush: Voices of America, written by James Still is being performed this year at Sturgis Wests’ amphitheatre on April 4th through 6th.

This play is about a young blind girl Maggie, performed by senior Shannon Lindlau, who goes on many wild adventures while living with her father, played by sophomore Dan Souza.

“I think this play is about the media and how it should all be taken with a grain of salt because things get misinterpreted,” Shannon explains. “It revolves around Maggie, and I adore her!”

“A lot of things in this play are specifically made to be unclear. The audience should not know if imaginary creation or if Maggie’s actually met them,” Mrs O says. “This play is about learning that just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

“Being invisible is not the same as being unreal. It’s all about learning to trust the ones you love,” Dan remarks.

Hush will be performed in an entirely new space, literally – the audience will sit in what is normally the staging area at the West auditorium, while the steps which are usually seating become the stage. Anna Michael states that, “the change of scenery will really add to this performance because there are many scenes that happen simultaneously, so the different levels will do a lot to differentiate the space.”

Curran comments: “I have to act like someone who doesn’t fall down the stairs, a great acting challenge for any clumsy thespian.”

The cast is truly excited to be sharing this experience with an audience, and with the combination of Sturgis West in the equation, it promises to be an unforgettable performance. The show promises to leave audiences with the message that if you want to see something, sometimes all you have to do is close your eyes.

Visiting Artists

Sturgis West Visual Arts Department received a $2000.00 Target Corporation Visiting Artist Grant. The grant was used to place award winning artist/author David Kooharian and celebrated Cape artist Odin K. Smith in the I.B. classroom. The I.B. Program encourages art teachers to utilize local artists as an indigenous resource.

Visiting Poets

Sturgis East is grateful to Lauren Wolk, Assistant Director of the Cultural Center of Cape Cod for making it possible to have poets visit English classes at Sturgis East this year. Thanks to dynamic visits with poets Christine Rathbun and Greg Hischak, we see interest in poetry is growing at Sturgis. We are delighted to see our students engaged and inspired by poetry.

Visiting Poet Greg Hischak

Cubists

By Greg Hischak

The Cubists came down from the hills that morning

and destroyed everything.

Our beautiful daughters and our fields of lavender,

our cypresses and barley.

They placed things on tables at terrible angles—

things that should never have been placed together.

The Cubists came and left us fragmented, grotesque,

squatting under a shattered plane of gray sky—

reduced to poor hapless props for the convoys

of surrealists that were to follow.

Had these things not transpired we might have

just lived out our days in profile, in a comforting

three quarter view—our perspective clasped

like a relic, still holy, still warm in our hands.

Visiting Poet-Christine Rathbun Ernst

By Christine Rathbun Ernst, inspired by John Cira

in July of 1666 exactly 300 years before I was born

the poet Anne Bradstreet’s house burned down

she wrote after watching the fire

and when I could no longer look, I blessed his Name that gave and took

she wrote late at night while her house slept recorded verbatim

the verses stored whole in her head

composed entire while she worked birthed built rebuilt suffered survived

parchment ink and candlelight such luxuries she could afford no typo

I envy the size of her life hard as it was

the measurable shape of it

her dense task and hard economy graspable and contained

three and a half centuries later I know too much

my one day at a time one paycheck away one wild and precious freighted with

guilt and information image and catastrophe

we even cancelled cable and the land line and don’t take a paper anymore

but the drum beats history repeats repeats news numbs I cannot avoid it

even the weather forecast crushes

sunny and fine all next week? what if I don’t enjoy it?

I yearn to be a villager work hard know less care more

the world sickens me to ennui a feckless asshole

I muster a rant now and then a letter to the editor maybe

most days though

earthquake tsunami wildfire I fold the laundry

another suicide bomber I put away the groceries

the GOP reimagines me a stepford wife I pay the bills

woman murders her child I give the baby a bath

occupy Wall Street Arab Spring I make the bed

warning graphic image below I fix supper

aspirin between my knees I mow the lawn

global warming debunked by intelligent designers I take the recycling to the dump

spoiler alert! Syria is the next Bosnia I hold my children

corporations are people I’m still unemployed

where is your outrage the pundit sputters I write late at night while the house sleeps

try to make good use hard economy of the time I have raise my kids

be a good wife what’s wrong with that make a difference keep us from burning down

Mistress Bradstreet: how did you live in the world?

the guernica mare screams is still screaming rears her ugly head again again